Leah Ann Burrowes Cosner passed away peacefully, surrounded by family with a smile on her face and a song in her heart, on June 21st, 2021. Leah was born to Archibald and Della Murray in Braddock Pennsylvania on January 21st, 1918. She graduated from high school in Indian Head, Maryland, and later married John Boyd Burrowes II prior to U.S. involvement in World War Two. After they left the military, they made their home in Washington, D.C.
Leah loved talking about her work as a telephone operator, and while she identified as a city girl, Leah was fond of saying that while “life had taken the boy out of Wyoming, it could not take Wyoming out of the boy.” In 1953 they moved, to Laramie and Leah made Wyoming her home. In the early seventies Leah and John were divorced. She later married Junior Dean Cosner, and learned to enjoy fishing as much as he did. They loved to garden, tell jokes, and dance.
Leah loved picnics, parties, and pinochle. She loved watching birds. Leah was a long standing member of the Loyal Order of the Moose and served for a term as president. She belonged to VFW, Does, and the Home on the Range Homemakers Club. She loved to cook and did so professionally at the Laramie Junior High School lunchroom and at the Ivinson Home for Ladies. She sang with the Music Gals and was active in the Methodist Church. Suffice it to say that she wore many different hats. She did so love hats, almost as much as she loved to sing.
She was preceded in death by her first and second husbands, John Boyd Burrowes II and Junior Dean Cosner, her brother Edward Murray, her son John Boyd Burrowes III, and her beloved grandson Dustin Jonathan Burrowes. She is survived by three daughters, Jeanne Saathoff (Don), Jerri Burrowes (Bill Kersting), and Ivy Burrowes; grandchildren Sheryl Moore (James), Shannon Clark, Susanna Haffner (Doug), and Danita Martinez (Brandon Warpness), eight great grandchildren, and eight great-great grandchildren. At the time of her passing four generations of her progeny were in attendance, and one of the last songs she heard was, “Don’t Fence Me In.”
Funeral Service will be 2:30 p.m. Monday, June 28, 2021 at Montgomery-Stryker Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Greenhill Cemetery.
Jerri and family, so sorry to hear about Leah’s passing. What a grand, sweet and kind lady she was, with a zest for life and an understanding for the complexities of our world. She and my mom, Ferne Brown, we’re such good friends and now they will be together drinking tea and chatting about all their shared memories. I will hold her memory in my heart forever.
I remember so many times that Leah watched my sister Debi and I over the years. We had so much fun playing with all of you. I am so sorry for your loss. She left me many fond memories of my childhood.
I am so sorry. Sending all our Love Serena & Family
Rest In Peace my sweet, sweet mama. I love you. I will go on in true Leah fashion and try to be as positive and appreciative of every thing beautiful, no matter how big or how small, as you did. The beautiful blue sky, the birds chirping out side your window. A note from a friend. I miss you desperately, I am so thankful to have many, many wonderful memories. You were the greatest inspiration of my life. Jerri